Mpezeni lauds government on East varsity plans

Paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngonispeaking people in Eastern province has lauded government for findinga piece land for the construction of a provincial university in Katetedistrict.

Paramount chief Mpezeni said the Patriotic Front (PF) was honouringits promises it made to the Zambian people during campaigns before the2011 general elections.

He said the University College of Applied Arts in Katete district willraise education levels in the region and reduce congestion at thethree other public varsities.

He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Chipata.

The traditional leader however expressed worry that no funds have beenallocated towards the project in the 2015 national budget which waspresented by Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda to parliamentearly this month.

"It is good news that we shall have our own provincial university herein Katete district and I am happy that land has been found. But l amsurprised that no funds have been allocated in the 2015 nationalbudget for the construction of the university," chief Mpezeni said.

Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and EarlyEducation John Phiri said government would construct a university ineach of the 10 provinces of Zambia.

These will add to the three existing public universities namelyUniversity of Zambia in Lusaka, Copperbelt University in theCopperbelt province and Mulungushi University in Central province.